Passport to Prosperity values the contribution employers make to helping students make the transition from school to the workplace. Each year provincial Employer Champion awards are handed out a special ceremony in Toronto.

The Renfrew County Passport to Prosperity Steering Committee is very pleased to have two Employer Champions. TV Cogeco was a recognized as a provincial Employer Champion in 2008 for its commitment to high school and college students who were pursuing careers in broadcast journalism. TV Cogeco offers dozens of students the opportunity each year to work on television productions such as news, sports, community and special event coverage. The cable television station has helped youth launch their careers in television and relies extensively on students to fulfill their obligations to air locally produced television programs.

In 2010, the Pembroke Regional Hospital was honoured as an Employer Champion for its leadership for the past twenty years in offering co-op placements to high school students, and its support of training opportunities for college and university students.

Passport to Prosperity has also recognized employers through the Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce Awards Gala. Past recipients of the Passport to Prosperity Employer Award have been: EIP Manufacturing, Eastway Developments and AECL.

Employer Leaders were also chosen on the 10th Anniversary of the Passport to Prosperity program in 2010.  Recipients were chosen by the four local school boards and Algonquin College and included: Westburne Ruddy Electric, Valley Automotive, AECL, Marianhill and Murphy Ford.